I have recently taken a layperson's interest in paleoanthropology since
reading Jean Auel's exciting "Earth's Children" novels. I understand
she took great pains to research much of her material to give a flavour
of authenticity to what is essentially stone-age fiction. Her books
certainly are compelling reading.

It's been nearly six years since "The Plains Of Passage" was published
and a 1992 edition has a forenote stating that she is working on the
fifth book in the series. Does anyone know the status of this "fifth
book" and whether she is still working on it?